Improvement in lead and crayon holders



J. HOFFMAN. Lead and Crayon Holder.

No. 213,569. Patented Mar. 25, 1879.

I22 2) 812 for:

N. PETER8. PKOTO-UTHOGRAPNEH. WASHINGTON. l7 0.

UNITE n- STATE s PATENT OFFIGE.

JOSEPH HOFFMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH REOKE N- DORFER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N6- 2l3,569, dated March 23, 1879; application filed December 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH HOFFMAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lead and Crayon Holders, of which the fol-' lowing is a specification:

My invention relates to pencil-holders provided with jaws, which are operated to clasp and hold the lead or crayon placed between them.

Heretofore, so far as I am informed, the jaws have been actuated by means of a movable external conical or otherwise suitably-shaped compressing sleeve, whose movement longitudinally with respect to the jaws would cause the latter to clamp or release the lead, according to the direction of said movement.

The gist of my invention lies in imparting, substantially as hereinafter described, the longitudinal movement, for the purpose of clamping the lead to the jaws instead of to a device external to and surrounding the jaws. I gain several advantages by this means over the method of construction and operation heretofore employed.

A pencil-holder made in accordance with my invention is. more simple none of its parts need be detached or loosened from the others for inserting or moving the lead. It holds the lead more firmly, and is more easily operated to clamp and release the lead. There is less liability of breaking the lead in clamping it than there is in screw-holders or holders with screw-clampin g sleeves which have a twisting action, that at times injuriously affects the lead.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a holder made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a like section of the same with the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the holder.

The case or sheath A is made of metal or other suitable material. It is tubular, and has a contracted front end, open to admit passage of the holder proper or the lead, or both.

Within the sheath is the holder proper, consisting of a tube, B, of metal or other proper material, the front end of which is drawn in or tapered and split by longitudinal slits into equal parts, two, three, four, or more, which 'permit the introduction of the lead (I. When the latter has been properly adjusted, it is secured in the desired position by turning the handle 0 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. This movement of the handle has the efi'ect of rotating the eccentric in a direction to push forward the holder, forcing its tapering jaws into the con tracted end or part c of the sheath, and so causing them to contract and clamp firmly, tightly, and with equable pressure the lead (I. To again release the lead, all that is needed is to return the handle to the position shown in Fig. 1.

In the holder shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the clamping action takes place when the jaws move forward; but the action may readily be reversed, so that the lead will be clamped when the jaws move back, and released when the jaws move forward.

Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 4, which is a longitudinal central section of a pencil-holder.

In this modification the clamping device is provided with a reverse incline or taper, f, which acts, in conjunction with the case A, to cause the jaws to contract when they move back.

It is manifest that my invention may be carried into effect in various ways. Any suitable means -as, for example, a crank, lever, or cam can be used, or a rotary screw-collar attached to the case and encircling the stem of the holder proper, so as to impart to it a longitudinal movement without rotation; or any other suitable means may be employed, all that is needed being that through the instrumentality of such means there is obtained a longitudinal movement of the clamping-jaws with respect to the device used to act upon said jaws during their movement.

In the holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is not absolutely necessary that the spring-jaws should taper longitudinally, for the graduallytapering front end of the case A will suffice to draw the jaws together when they advance and on the other hand when the jaws taper normally, any shoulder or projecting rib on the case that will be brought in contact with the jaws when they advance or move in the direction in which they are required to contract will answer the purpose. I do not therefore limit myself to the precise details of construction herein described but- What I claim, and desire to secure by Lettcrs Patent, is-

1. In a lead or crayon holder, the combination, with an inclosing case or sheath, of a 1ongitudinally-movable lead-containing tube or receiver, terminating at its front end in clamping-jaws, acted on by the sheath to clamp or release the lead, according to the direction in which said receiver is moved, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lead or crayon holder, the combination, with a lead-containing tube or receiver, terminating at its front end in clamping-jaws, and an inclosing sheath or sleeve, of an cecentric, or its equivalent, arranged and operated from the exterior of the holder, to produce longitudinal movement of the one part with respect to the other, substantially as set forth.

3. The case or sheath and the lead-containing tube or receiver, terminating at its front end in clamping-jaws, in combination with the eccentric connected with said receiver and mounted in said sheath, and provided with a handle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH HOFFMAN.

Witnesses J. BRAISTED, L. REINDEL. 

